The parade route remains the same as it has for the past 33 years. Join us for this annual event!

First Annual Chili Lunch Downtown Revitalization Fundraiser

March 21

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Student Life Center

Downtown Blue Springs

For tickets, visit any Downtown merchant or call Donna at (816) 220-1233.

Official Census Numbers

On Feb. 24, the U.S. Census Bureau released the official 2010 Census numbers for Missouri.

According to the official numbers, Blue Springs population is now at 52,575. This is a 9.3% increase from the official 2000 Census numbers of 48,080.

Blue Springs is currently tied with the City of St. Peters, Missouri as the 10th largest city in Missouri.

As a result of the 2010 Census numbers, Missouri will be redistricting the Legislative and Congressional district lines. Prior to the 2010 Census, Missouri had nine Congressional representative districts. However, recent Census announcements have indicated that number will be reduced to eight.

On Feb. 24, Sen. Clair McCaskill visited Blue Springs. She met with local community stakeholders at the Howard Brown Public Safety Building then held a town hall meeting at the Blue Springs Mid-Continent Public Library.

Black History Month Luncheon

On February 28, I had the pleasure of enjoying lunch with Ken, Kenneth, Tracie & Kelcie Patrick at Lucy Franklin Elementary School to celebrate Black History Month.

Pothole Season

Potholes

To report a pothole, call the Pothole Hotline at (816) 228-0291 and leave the exact location of the hole, the nearest cross street, and your name and phone number so that we may contact you if we have problems locating the hole.

Hello and welcome to News Happenings Around Town, your one-stop source for City information and news updates, including those items most important to you.

After a particularly harsh winter, signs of Spring are a welcome change of pace. It's great to see residents being able enjoy the fresh March air in our beautiful parks system. To find a park near you, click here. This weekend is the beginning of Daylight Savings Time and I would like to remind everyone to "Change your Clock, Change your Batteries" on Sunday, March 13. Replacing smoke detector batteries is a small and easy step to help protect your family.

I would like to take a moment to congratulate our "Hall of Fame" Councilman Dale Carter! Councilman Carter was recently inducted into the Country Music DJ and Radio Hall of Fame, located in Nashville, TN. This is quite a honor and we couldn't be more proud of your accomplishment!

The Citizen's Police Academy graduated its 8th class last night. Congratulations to the graduates on a job well done! If you would like to learn more about the Citizen's Police Academy, click here.

As always, please continue sharing this timely publication and spreading the word about what's good and going on in the City of Blue Springs.

Let's Move! Blue Springs

On Monday, March 7, the Blue Springs City Council heard a presentation from Judy Baker, Regional Director of the US Department of Health & Human Services, about First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative. This initiative was created by the First Lady and the Department of Health and Human Services as part of the nation's effort to raise a healthier generation of children.

Dave Wright, President of StandUp Blue Springs, outlined a plan for engaging citizens of Blue Springs to develop and implement innovative ideas for improving the health of the children throughout the community. StandUp will facilitate two citizen-led summits, June 18 and July 9, similar to those that helped develop the Dog Park at Grounds Park and the Disc Golf Course at Wilbur Young Park.

At the completion of these summits, a prioritized list of projects linked to the Let's Move! goals, teams committed to seeing these projects through, as well as a plan for implementing the projects will be in place. StandUp will also ensure ongoing communication with key stakeholder groups which are already committed to this important initiative.

The City of Blue Springs has developed a Calendar of Events for the Let's Move! initiate on the City's Web site. To view events, click here. If you would like to submit and event for this community calendar, send information to letsmove@bluespringsgov.com.

If you would like to learn more about the Let's Move! Blue Springs initiative, click here.

Dedicated Public Safety Sales Initiative

On the April 5, the City of Blue Springs will present a question on the General Election ballot for your consideration. I want to make sure that you are properly informed with information about this initiative before casting your vote on April 5.

If approved by voters on April 5, the 1/2 dedicated Public Safety Sales Tax will provide:

EQUIPMENT

Digital Radio/Communications System

Patrol Cars for Proposed New Officers

Replacement of Patrol Car Cameras

This new equipment will:

Replace the 20+ year old radio system to comply with unfunded 2013 FCC mandate

Provide officers with a system that allows them to communicate directly with area emergency responders

Make radio coverage comprehensive City-wide.

PERSONNEL

7 New Patrol Officers

2 New Street Crime Officers

4 Detention Staff

1 Assistant/Deputy Chief

1 Animal Control Officer

1 Radio/Communications System Specialist

1 Evidence Property Custodian

This new personnel will:

Effect response times to emergency and non-emergency calls

Provide more on-duty officers in neighborhoods and retail locations around the clock

Provide more hours to animal control and evidence.

FACILITIES

Renovate and Enlarge thePublic Safety Building Built in 1987

This facility renovation and expansion will:

Add space for detention, dispatch, evidence retention and a temporary animal control holding area

OVERSIGHT

The Public Safety Advisory Board, made up of Blue Springs citizens, is charged with oversight of the tax.The Advisory Board will make regularly scheduled reports to the City Council on spending of funds collected by the tax and report on performance goals.

With spring approaching, severe weather becomes a concern. Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are a common occurrence in and around our area. With that in mind, this week is Severe Weather Awareness Week for both Kansas and Missouri.

Did you know that outdoor warning sirens are not designed to be heard when inside your home or business? Below are two ways you can become better prepared if severe weather strikes our area.

Weather Radios Weather radios sold in local retail outlets receive broadcasts directly from the National Weather Service and can be programmed to alert you of severe weather in your area. For more information about weather radios, click here.

CodeRED Blue Springs residents can sign up for the CodeRED Emergency Notification & Weather Warning System. This system allows us to notify residents of emergency situations that require immediate action. The Weather Warning System is a severe weather early warning service that will call your contact number and deliver an alert message shortly after a warning is issued by the National Weather Service for your area. To sign up for this free service, click here. You can also sign up by calling the CodeRED hotline at (816) 220-2633.

I hope you have found this issue of News Happenings Around Town to be both informative and timely for your City information needs. Is there anything we missed? Do you have questions about any of the articles from this issue? Share your thoughts with me and the City Council by calling City Hall at (816) 228-0110. Know that we truly value your time and support for our City and hope you join us for the next issue of News Happenings.

Sincerely,

Carson Ross, Mayor

City of Blue Springs

Our

Mission

The City of Blue Springs is a unique community where families, visitors and businesses share a special quality of life and an abundant spirit of community closeness and cooperation.

Our number one goal is to ensure that our residents, visitors and patrons receive quality customer service and attention with every program and service the City provides. Just as you stand by a community that strives to meet your family's needs, we promise to do our best to meet these needs and anticipate what's best for you and our community, to the best of our ability.